Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1880 — Before and After. [ARTICLE]

Before and After.

This is a year before marriage. He is making her a call. He is at the front door ringing for her. He has been thinking all day of her. There are his boots newly blacked, his collar spotless, his form ditto outside, his gloves drawn on for the first time, his hair newly parted and oiled, his face newly shaven, his heart palpitates for her, his neives are nexrvous for her, he fears she may be out or that her parents may object, or, worse than that, some other fellow’ "may be there with her. The door opens. She is there and alone. He is happy. This is a year after marriage. He is ringing at the door. His face is unshaven, his collar much worn, his boots unblacked, his hair unbrushed. He rings again in exactly ten seconds. He gives the bell a strong, petulant pull. He is thinking of her. He is grumbling that 3he doesn’t answer it sooner. He has not all day been tliinking of hex’. He has gone farther, maybe, Jand fared worse. Now she opens it. He pushes past her and remarks, “Takes you forever to answer that bell.” His unbrushed boots sound sullenly as he ascends the stairs.

She follows meekly after. He thrashes into the room and round the house and sings out, “Isn’t dinner ready yet?” She bids him be patient for a moment. But he won’t. Because dinner isn’t ready within one minute after he gets home. Because this is the one year after marriage. Because the bloom is off the rye, the down rubbed from the peach, and various other considerations. Because it’s the way of the world, of man, of matrimony. O Tempera ! O Mores ! O Matrimony 1